Eggs Benedict Spaghetti

by derekbocking

7.8K5510

Intro: Eggs Benedict Spaghetti

   I'm one of those people who could eat breakfast at anytime of the day. One one my favorite breakfasts is Eggs Benedict, so I came up with this dish as an excuse to have it anytime for dinner!  It is like the bastard child of Eggs Benedict and Spaghetti Carbonara.   This recipe has all of the elements of the breakfast classic and tastes just like it. 

prep time 20 minutes, cooking time 20 minutes, serves 4

STEP 1: Ingredients

300g (10oz)spaghetti 
4 whole eggs
200g (7 oz) ham
8 tbs grated parmesan
6 english muffins
1/2 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tbs butter

For the hollandaise sauce:
4 egg yolks
2 tbs lemon juice
100g (3 1/2 oz) butter
Tabasco

STEP 2: Make the Hollandaise

Heat 100g (3 1/2 oz) butter in a small sauce pot until it separates. Pour it into measure cup or coffee mug and let it rest so that the clarified butter rises to the top and the milk settles at the bottom. Put 4 yolks in a metal bowl with 2 tbs lemon juice, a couple dashes of tabasco and 4 tbs warm water. Whisk the egg yolks over hot water until they are thick enough to coat a spoon. Don't let the yolks cook or the sauce will be lumpy. Gradually add the clarified butter while whisking constantly. Season with salt & pepper. Add more warm water to thin the sauce if necessary.   

STEP 3: English Muffin Croutons

Cut 2 English muffins into small croutons and toast in the oven at 400 until they just start to brown, about 6 minutes. 

STEP 4:

Cut the ham into cubes. Heat 1 tbs of butter in a frying pan and then add the ham. Saute until golden brown. Meanwhile heat a large pot of salted water for the pasta and a smaller pot of salted water with 2 tbs vinegar for poaching the eggs. When the water for the eggs has reached a boil, lower it to a gentle simmer and give it a stir so that the water in moving when the eggs go in. Crack the eggs into small cups or ramekins and then pour them into the water and cook for 5 minutes. Let them rest on paper towel while you finish cooking the pasta.

When the water for the pasta reaches a boil, add the spaghetti add cook for one minute less then the instructions on the packet. Add the cooked noodles to the pan with the ham along with 250ml (1 cup) of the water you cooked the pasta in. Add 4 tbs grated Parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for one minute.

STEP 5: Put It All Together

Divide the pasta among 4 plates and garnish each plate with one poached egg, a tbs of grated Parmesan, English muffin croutons & fresh chives. Drizzle the hollandaise sauce over each dish. Serve with toasted, buttered English muffins and extra Tabasco sauce on the side.  

10 Comments

BDporkchop 12 years ago

i am going to try this next sunday breakfast lunch or both

l8nite 12 years ago

I saved this and posted it to my sisters fb wall. My sister is a great cook/chef who has studied at the American Culinary Institute and abroad, here is what she had to say " "This looks almost like deconstructed carbonara sauce! Looks delish! definitely not low fat!!" and in a 2nd reply "I keep looking at this.... i have already gained 20 lbs!!! everytime I think of it I gain 5.... there is something about the egg on top that makes me want to make this.."

For some reason she can't wrap her mind around Chicago 5way spaghetti with chilli, perhaps it's all her Italian influences... LOL

Keep up the great work, and thank you for helping me derail my sisters diet ! ! !

derekbocking 12 years ago

You sister's right, this is totally a riff on carbonara. And yes it packs a big calorie punch - a lot of butter goes into it (besides the ham and eggs...) It's not an every day meal, but it's a great treat-yourself meal.

l8nite 12 years ago

ooops, maybe it was the culinary arts institute... one of those highly ranked cooking schools at any rate....

Lorddrake 12 years ago

sounds yummy .. can't wait to try it.

Ranie-K 12 years ago

Fantastic photos!

Uptonb 12 years ago

I am so making this tomorrow night. I would tonight, but I have chicken in a brine for tonight's dinner.